Expansile cover for milk cans



April 14, 1953 R. A. GRENFELL 2,634,881

EXPANSILE COVER FOR MILK CANS Filed May 4, 1951 Patented Apr. 14, 1953 S TNT OFFICE f,

EXPANSILE COVER FOR MILK CAN S Raymond A. Greniell, Missoula, Mont.

Application May 4, 1951, Serial No. 224,587

This invention relates to expansile closure caps for liquid containers and more particularly to an expansile closure cap for a milk can.

It is among the objects of the invention to pro vide an improved expansile closure cap which can be substituted. for the usual milk can closure cap and will seal an associated milk can against the entry of any contaminating substance, such as dust, water or contaminated air; which can be easily disassembled for cleaning and reassembled for use and includes a readily replaceable elastic element; which is easy to place in and remove from a milk can neck; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and positive and effective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan vview of a milk can and closure cap illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of the elastic element of the closure cap; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the top plate element of the cap.

With continued reference to the drawing, the milk can has a cylindrical body i@ and a cylindrical neck Il connected at one end to the adjacent end of the body by a tapered shoulder I2. The can is of conventional or well known construction and a closure cap is provided to close the neck of the can after the can has been filled with milk. It has been found that these conventional closure caps do not provide a tight seal with the neck of the can with the result that air carrying dust, moisture or other contaminating substances can pass the closure cap to the interior of the can to contaminate the milk during transportation and storage of the lled can. The present invention provides an improved closure cap which makes an airtight seal with the neck of the can and precludes any contamination of the milk in the can.

This cap comprises a iiat top plate I3 of circular shape having a central aperture Ill and a circular flange or bead I5 extending perpendicularly from one side of the cap concentrically of the aperture Id and circumferentially spaced inwardly of the edge or rim of the plate. The portion of the plate between the ange I5 and the edge of the plate is doubled and folded over, as indicated at I6, so that the plate and the flange 3 Claims. (Cl. 22o-24.5)

` hub portion and the corresponding transverse can be formed from a single piece of suitable sheet metal.

A tubular boss I1 is joined at one end to the plate I3 at the side of the plate from which the Vflange i5 extends and this boss has a screw threaded bore which registers with the aperture Id in the plate.

A screw IS isthreaded through the boss I'I and is provided with transversely extending apertures one near each end thereof. A handwheel or knob i9 is mounted on the screw I8 at the end of the screw at the side of the plate I3 remote from the flange I5. This handwheel has a hub 26 receiving the adjacent end portion of the screw and a pin 2l extends through registering apertures in this aperture in the screw to rigidly secure the hand-f wheel to the screw.

A dished plate 22 of circular shape is spaced from the side lof the plate I3 from which the flange i 5 extends and has its convex side opposed to the plate i3. This dished plate has a central aperture receiving the adjacent end of the screw I8 and a snap type cotter key 23 extends through the transverse aperture at this end of the screw at the side of the dished plate 22 remote from the flat plate I 3.

An annular or substantially cylindrical body 24 of elastic material, such as soft vulcanized rubber, is disposed between the plates I3 and 22 and has a central opening 25 receiving the boss I1. This body of elastic material is received at one end in the ange I5 and has at this end a flat surface bearing against the adjacent surface of the at plate I3. At its other end the body 24 is provided with a concave surface receiving the convex side of the dished plate 22 and the peripheral surface of the body 24 is slightly tapered in a direction from the plate 22 toward the plate I3.

With the closure cap assembled in the manner described above and with the screw threaded through the boss I1 to space the dished plate 22 a, maximum distance from the flat plate I3 relieving the body 24 of compression, the cap can be easily inserted into the milk can neck. The handwheel I9 is then turned to draw the plate 22 toward the plate I3 and compress the elastic body 24 forcing the peripheral surface of this body into sealing contact with the inner surface of the neck II of the milk can and securing the cap rmly in place in the milk can neck.' In order to remove the cap from the milk can neck the handwheel I9 is rotated in the opposite direction to relieve the elastic body of compression, whereupon the cap can be easily Withdrawn by a pull on the handwheel.

With the body 24 relieved of compression the cotter key 23 can be removed from the screw I8 so that the parts of the cap can be separated for cleaning and, when necessary, for replacement of the elastic body.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore. intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is: i

1. An expansile closure cap for a container comprising a at plate having a central aperture therein and an annular flange on one side thereof concentric with said aperture and spaced inwardly from the edge of said plate, a tubular boss joined at one end to said plate at said one side of the latter and having a screw threaded bore in registry with said aperture, a screw threaded through said boss, a handwheel on the end of said screw at the other side of said iiat plate for turning the screw, a dished plate spaced from said one side of said fiat plate with its convex side opposed to said iiat plate and having a central aperture receiving the adjacent end of said screw, a quick detachable fastener engaged with said screw at the side of said dished plate remote from said iiat plate, and an annular body of elastic material surrounding said boss between said plates and received at one end in said annular flange, said body having its other end a concave surface receiving said dished plate and being slightly tapered from said other to said one end. Y

2. An expansile closure cap for a container comprising a flat plate having a central aperture therein, a tubular boss joined at one end to said plate at one side of the latter and having a screw threaded bore in registry with said aperture, a screw threaded through said boss, a handwheel on one end of said screw, a dished plate spaced from the side of said fiat plate remote from said handwheel with its convex side opposed to said at plate and having a central aperture receiving the other end of said screw, a fastener engaged with said screw at the side of said dished plate remote from said flat plate, and an annular body of elastic material surrounding said boss between said plates, said body of elastic material having a peripheral surface of a diameter to closely iit into the neck of a milk can and having a concave end surface receiving said dished plate.

3. An expansile closure cap for a container comprising a flat plate having a central aperture therein, a tubular boss joined at one end to said plate at one side of the latter and having a screw threaded bore in registry with said aperture, a screw threaded through said boss, a handwheel on one end of said screw, a dished plate spaced from the side of said iiatplate remote from said handwheel with its convex side opposed to said at plate and having a central aperture receiving the other end of said screw, a fastener engaged with said screw at the side of said dished plate remote from said flat plate, and an annular body of elastic material surrounding said boss between said plates, said body of elastic material having a peripheral surface of a diameter to closely iit into the neck of a. milk can and having a concave end surface receiving said dished plate and said iiat plate having a marginal portion extending circumferentially outwardly of the peripheral surface of said body of elastic material to provide a stop for engaging the outer end of a milk can neck and limiting movement of the cap therein.

RAYMOND A. GRENFELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 22,535 Willoughby July 4, 1859 222,164 Tuchfarber Dec. 2, 1879 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 549,245 France Nov. 14, 1922 

